I was impressed with the results that Dana achieved with the pads while he was at my training center. During his trip the discussion came up about an East Coast Training Center and it made sense to me to add this training to The Stone and Tile Schools Training. As the stone industry and the restoration industry changes, diamonds, tools and equipment it make perfect sense for The Stone and Tile School to not only test these products tools and equipment but make sense for us to train on the proper use of these items.
This does not mean we stop training on the tradition methods of stone restoration, it means we can offer other options that can be used in the stone restoration industry.
I would rather be the one testing the product making sure it meets what I feel the industry wants as a standard than some distributor selling a product telling everyone it’s the best thing since sliced bread and you the restoration contractor buy it, use it and find out it didn’t really work that well and you now wasted money.
I started testing these diamonds last week-end and yes I was impressed, and yes I am impressed enough that I am willing to train on the use of these diamond pads / pucks.
I still have additional testing to do on granite, on concrete, and some other surfaces but the early results are impressive.
The comments made on the forum are not to sell products but to inform the partners when there are new things on the market and how they work. This is part of being a partner.
I can tell you I just received a new machine in on Monday. I have not had time to test it but will be testing it within the next 2 weeks, and I can tell you I have another machine coming in and I have a new wet and dry vac coming in.
As I test these items I will give the results of them to all of you on the forum.
One of our goals at The Stone and Tile School is to keep you the SCC Partners informed and up to date on new technology, products and equipment.
John E Freitag
Director
The Stone & Tile School
Office 407-567-7652
Cell 407-615-0134
jfreitag@thestoneandtileschool.com
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www.thestoneandtileschool.com
From: rosen.stuart@gmail.com [mailto:rosen.stuart@gmail.com] On Behalf Of stuart rosen
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 6:46 PM
To: Stone and Tile PROS Technical Support
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] [sccpartners] Re: [sccpartners] Re: [sccpart
That is exciting-I wasn't aware John was going to be taking on the training of the cheetah system exclusively for the east coast.
I would still like to hear Johns take on the product-I am interested in the comparison between this new technology and more traditional methods.
Refinishing on site we always strive to replicate or surpass a factory finish. With polishing Powders it can be achieved or in many cases surpassed.
We must know prior to the start of a job that the results are predictable.
For me and many others who use variable techniques and products its about time and results.
On Tue, Jul 16, 2013 at 4:37 PM, Dana Kothrade <dana@innovativesurfacesolutions.com> wrote:
I spoke with John yesterday. Sounds like he's having a ton of fun testing the New Cheetah Pucks. We are very excited to have John Freitag taking on training the Cheetah system on the east coast at The Stone and Tile School.
Respectfully,
Innovative Surface Solutions
Well noted Dana
New tools and.techniques are always good.
I agree that no tool or product is a covers every job a stone refinisher will run into.
Was curious to what johns testing showed.
On Jul 12, 2013 12:10 AM, "Dana Kothrade" <dana@innovativesurfacesolutions.com> wrote:
On moderately hard to hard stones if used properly, by the time you're done with Cheetah Puck Step-4 the picture frames are nearly invisible since the highs are nearly as glossy as the lows (picture frames). Polishing with the 11,000 grit Monkey Pad blends and polishes the whole surface uniformly. We've designed everything with picture framing in mind with the help of dozens of beta testers of varying experience levels. This collaboration has proven invaluable and is partially responsible for the incredible breakthroughs we've been able to make with this new system. Are Cheetah Pucks the end all miracle for everyone on every stone job? No but to do 8-10 steps in 4 while achieving improved clarity and gloss can't be a bad thing right??? They're just another tool in your arsenal.
We started mass production this week. Please be patient we've got 28 countries all trying to get the pucks ASAP.
Respectfully,
Innovative Surface Solutions
So the 11,000removes the framing,. THats amazing. Cant wait to try them out.
From: Dana Kothrade [mailto:dana@innovativesurfacesolutions.com]
Sent: Thursday, 11 July 2013 3:42 AM
To: Stone and Tile PROS Technical Support
Cc: Stone and Tile PROS Technical Support
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] [sccpartners] Re: [sccpartners] Re: [sccpart
Great to hear from you. It has been a long time.
You'll definitely notice the picture framing on step-2 since it'll be cutting the high areas dull while the picture frames (low areas) will still be glossy. This is minimized when step-3 brings the reflectivity up and all but disappears with step-4, the final blending and polishing with the 11,000 monkey pad eliminates picture framing. In severe cases of picture framing on floors with a lot of lippage it may be easier to just do step-2 and possibly step-3 then powder polish with 11,000 monkey pad. The NEW Cheetah Pucks have a steeper outer angle which helps them get tighter into the picture frames than most traditional diamond discs.
Respectfully,
Innovative Surface Solutions
Hi Dana...long time.
So if you are just doing a diamond hone (no flattening) to a polish, all mechanical, I assume that would be step 2 onward (?)
How does this handle picture framing, if it is totally mechanical and not chemical polishing out the blend?
John, can you sample this? Do you have a “raw” test floor.
From: Dana Kothrade [mailto:dana@innovativesurfacesolutions.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 10 July 2013 2:50 AM
To: Stone and Tile PROS Technical Support
Cc: Stone and Tile PROS Technical Support
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] [sccpartners] Re: [sccpartners] Re: [sccpart
We've used the pucks on many crystallized floors in Las Vegas Casinos. Step-1 was used to cut most or all of the crystallized layer before proceeding to step-2 followed by a powder polish with 11,000 grit Monkey Pad or continue with steps 3&4 followed by 11,000 grit monkey pad for polishing for a purely mechanical shine.
Respectfully,
Innovative Surface Solutions
Removing crystallization should be no problem for theses pucks diamonds.
John E Freitag
Director
The Stone & Tile School
Office 407-567-7652
Cell 407-615-0134
jfreitag@thestoneandtileschool.com
<image001.jpg>
www.thestoneandtileschool.com
From: Ron Moore [mailto:rmoore@americanstonecare.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2013 10:07 AM
To: Stone and Tile PROS Technical Support
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] [sccpartners] Re: [sccpartners] Re: [sccpart
I wonder how these pucs would work removing crystalizer? Anyone else try that yet? Just curious.
Ron
On Jul 8, 2013 3:17 PM, "Dana Kothrade" <dana@innovativesurfacesolutions.com> wrote:
The Cheetahs you have are the 23rd generation and are called Cheetah Pucks so they don't get confused with the original pad style Cheetahs. These NEW Cheetah Pucks come in 3" and 5" versions and are 15mm thick. They're HUGE.
The Cheetah Pucks are a 4 step restoration system followed by a quick polishing with an 11,000 grit Monkey Pad if you want to go for a full mechanical polish. If you want to use the Cheetah Pucks with your favorite acidic polishing powder or paste, most marbles can be polished after using step 2.
Here's the grit range of each Cheetah Puck
Can remove lippage on soft stones, replaces 100 metal, 50,100,200,400 resin bond diamond discs. Even though they aggressively remove surface material, even step-1 shows minimal if any visible scratch pattern.
Removes moderate damage and/or preps the surface for powder polishing. Replaces 200,400, 800,1500 resin bond diamond discs.
Removes scratch pattern from step-2 and preps the surface for powder polishing problematic marbles or before step-4 Cheetah Puck for full mechanical polish.
Replaces resin bond diamond discs 800,1800,3500,8000.
Final step in full mechanical restoration before final polishing with 11,000 Monkey Pad. Replaces resin bond diamond discs 1800,3500,5000,8000,10,000 and beyond.
Cheetahs span multiple grits with each step by releasing abrasive material to open and close the pad face. They sense the level of surface wear/damage and start off cutting aggressively but smooth out quickly as the damage is removed.
For people skilled at powder polishing, its an incredibly effici